New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-28

Historical Society there is copy OF pamphlet which
hitherto has remained unmcntioned by all who have
written on Da Pone 20 far can be learned. 1t was
his fret public utterance in America and was evident
~ designed the first OF series OF publications to Do
circulated among his Italian scholars in this city, 1t is
In Italian, with English translation, and the copy
In question uncut until 1t fell into the writer's
hands through The courtesy of Librarian jacob b.
Moore. Here Is tho title in English
Compendium Of the Life OF Lorenzo Da Ponte written
held az Els on the 10Th day
March 1907. consisting OF several Italian compositions
New-Yori printed by l. Riley & Co. 1907.
Da Poutes motive for printing this pamphlet IL
told in the brief PREDATORY address To tho Reader
as follows;
1t IS long while since promised to my friends
for the present these hints II they reach Eng
Justly taking advantage of my absence to deprive me
even OF that little which has escaped the hands OF rauu
ana which entrusted before my departure 10 apparen.
honesty wish to conceal her names under the vell OF
charity II can longer under THAT Of friendship; and
II they be willing, IL Is not too late.
In this Compen iium" Da Ponte hurries over the
greater portion OF his lfehlsory. HIS departure from
venice he chronicles thus: al was obliged to leave
Venice the place OF my nativity for having associated
myself with an iustrious person whose efforts were
directed TO her preservation" To his London history
ia added the information that before he became poet
to the royal theatre he spent year totally destitute
Of employment" and then went to Holland for the
purpose OF establishing there Italian theatre. lie
encouraged in the project and had almost sue
ceeded whom the defeat OF the English under Dun
kirk changed the face OF Affairs lie remained in his
position of theatrical poet eight years, with much
profit and not without honor he says and then con-
tinues: It was snatched from me by mears OF some
female articles at q moment when | had the least
apparent reason to apprehend such loss What IS
referred TO in these words Is not clear. Da Points
had the reputation OF a gallant, and even in his old
age could not resist the temptation to discourse on
the favor which he had stood with thu fair sex
and the fidelity with which he had lived up TO every
promise TO love a woman made between the perion
when no first experienced the passion, at eighteen
years. TO the time OF his marriage, when he was forty
Later in his pamphlet he refers % ths money which
his wife had earned by bor own honorable industry
and appcns this ioct note Do you understand tho
meaning OF that word, once beautiful kosseilana OF
England T. That he had many enouies IN the theat-
rcal circles OF London well known and with some
be carried a bitter personal controversy. Ot this
tact an am usng bit OF evidence is contained IN vol
un,e OF miscellaneous pamphlets In tho historian
Sccietys Library Among the pamphlets IL an Italian
enc printed without late aui anonymously In Lisbon
II IL an Indecent attack on the celebrated Lorenzo
DaDODte, who after having been Jew, Christian,
prest aud poet In Italy and Germany found himself
10 be a layman, husband and ass in London In ths
pamphlet IA sonnet addressed 10 Da Ponte III "hlsn
hy Pun his Is associated with the Ponte
Oscura.r disreputable quarter of Naples. Next to
this delectabe pamphlet is bound n reply, also ul-
signod whi:h bandies epIihets with tho alleged
anthor OF the former with freedom ana Vigor whco
would be considered Startling even by the conUo'et
siaists of the Far West. This Is the way In which
the climax is reached Poets d Priapo. di Gothic,
dl Petuuda, di Stercuecio di tutti le iogne, cd
Lupinari d Londra" Aealr In the Compendium
while emphasizing the staten ent that he brought
nothing with him froiu En- land to America except
some books ard a box ol violin strings" nc adds
Whatever may be said by tho illiterate singer OF
Haymarke or the Dalilah OF the Neapolitan Eunuch"
The indignant protestation. II must be confessed
sounds little amusing in view OF the TACT that lew
pages later no says; a. glass OF wine gwen with
affected compassion by needy sharper on board the
fatal Nantucket vessel cost me $500 more. EVl-
IDENTIFY he carried at least 5000 away with hun when
pursued by twelve balias." he nel from London to
Grayessnd and there embarked on the Nantucket
vessel which sailed Tor Philadelphia on March 20
1905.
uis vito. he saws. had been in Amorioa visit to
her father year but 60 long tina; aoout the MD
die OF Februry he had sent hsr pererpory inJnnc-
ton 20 return She about 20 obey hun wien ne ar
ri,ed His wife had brought over 80. GOD lremem oer
Rosseanal and got Sl,OOv more from hcf sister
In London. With this money Da Ponto embarked IN
business. Evidently no not cut out tor trades
man. In three mouths through h.s wontcd lenity OF
temper" he had lost $500 then the t'a OF yellow To-
yer drove him to Ezabethtown ~ j.. where he bought
n house and lot aud continued his traffic In liquors
tobacco drugs. etc lie failed, he says because his
was sometimes obliged taher than lose all to take ter
note due long before lame horses, broken carts dis
ointsd chairs old shoes rancid butter, watery cider
rotten eggs apples. brooms. turniD., potatoes ana
these things lac had To sell ut sacrifice III oEder W
meet tho demands o. creditors without mercy
Plainly Da Ponte was not a inancier. In his books
those who owed him money are all uuoonscionae'e
sconndrcls and cheats, and those TO whom ne owes
money are all msrciless. grasPIng sknints who sofa
him bad goods. HIS Nev-Jcrsey venture lasted
L.. 1avt1 tpufa
by a peculiarly wicked creditor named Dnnham,
seized upon hts household effects. lie returned to
Now York. began 20 teach Italian, and entertained ms
first class with tho sketch Of hs lie from when tue
abova draught. have bsea made, and included hnHu
cia showing OF the Jersey business The citizens OF
Elilabethtown owed hin about $500; he owed $500
in Jersey he bad 81 600 which he divided amons
his New-YJrk creditors, but 1t was "not enough to
meet all demands" nor we're oil these demands paid
alter he had handed over his creditors 80 400. Da
9onte was " nah" When IL came to finances.
Da Ponte now entered q period OF successful
teaching In New-York His name appears Tor the first
time in Longworth's directory tor 1907. The period
lasted till 1911, and distinguished each year by
"a change OF residence; among other places ne hvoo
at No 20 Parton-st., In the Bowery, aud mt NO %4|
Duane-st. Having amassed fortune oil SioOo no
ac,in embarked in business. This time he became a
distiller in Snnbury, Penn. lie stad from June 10,
ISL ill August 1, 1918 and OF course was more
dreadfuiIy ruined than ever before Again he was
the only sheep In a flock Of wolves. On his return DO
again gathered his pupils around him. lie won ,he
trendship of no less powerful advocate than Ce-
ment C. arke Moore whom scholars honor as the pio
ueor Hebrew photographer Of the United States and
whom children love the author OF Twas the Night
before Christmas" His summers he spent near noo'e
patrons the Lvingstons, on the Hudson ais winters
Ia town lie wrote his memoirs la three small vol
ume, and pnblished them in 1923. He lectured on
Italy and even measured his pen with that OF Prescott
who had venturcd to oritcise Italian narrative poetry
IN The North American Review" Exactly when does
not appear, but IL that he also taught - amt
Sally" who kept a clearinghouse In Broom est tne
-, -, t..,,.., o,,Larv and cultivated in his pupils